Alaska Seas and Rivers Curriculum: The Case of the Missing Sea Otters

This unit is designed for 4th grade but could be adapted for use at any of the intermediate grades. Students develop an understanding of how organisms in aquatic environment are connected to each other through four investigations that weave together the story of The Case of the Missing Sea Otter", an actual case study from the Aleutian Islands. Students participate in a sampling simulation, make predictions, and try to solve the mystery of the missing otters. They then apply their knowledge of ecosystems to their local aquatic environment. Finally, students share their collected data with other classrooms around the state.